Thread holder and cutter



March 4, 1930. z, BENNETT 1,749,691

THREAD HOLDER AND CUTTER Filed Jan. 14, 1929 lllllllllllllllllw Ar'zrzazenz'zfiennett M m ATTOR NEY Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THREAD HOLDER AND CUTTER Application filed January 14, 1929.

This invention relates to attachments for spools of the character used for carrying thread, an object being to provide a device which may be removably secured to the end of a spool to clamp the end of the thread and prevent accidental unwinding thereof, the invention permitting of the formation of a loop in the end of the thread so that the latter may be readily unfastened.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment, which in addition to the above, may be used to cut the thread and may be attached to either end of the spool.

lVith the above and other objects in View, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a spool with the invention applied.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view.

Figure 4; is a similar view showing a slightly different form of the invention.

Figure 5 is an edge View of a further modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of looping the thread.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 ina dicates a spool of the character commonly used for winding thread, the spool including a body having an opening 11 extending therethrough and circular flanges 12 at opposite ends of the body.

The invention which is designed to be removably secured to either end of the spool comprises a plate 13 which is provided with an opening for the insertion of a fastening device 14 whereby the plate may be removably secured to the spool. It may be here noted that the plate is of such size and character that it is secured to the spool without obstructing the opening 11 so that the spool may be used upon a sewing machine without removing the invention.

Serial No. 332,405.

The invention further includes a curved flange 15 and the plate and flange may be formed from a single blank of material. The flange is designed to extend around the edge of the flange 12 of the spool and to be slightly spaced therefrom as shown in Figure 2 and is attached to the plate by means of a restricted portion 16. A notch is formed at opposite ends of the restricted portion and the innermost portions of .these notches define thread cutters 17 while their outer portions 18 provide flared entrances to the cutters.

As the notches are duplicated at opposite edges of the device, the said device may be attached to either end of a spool and in securing the end of the thread, the said thread is drawn into one of the notches a sufficient distance to bind but not cut the thread while the extremity of the thread is likewise drawn into the other notch so as to provide a loop 19 as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. This loop provides convenient means for the insertion of a needle or other instrument therebeneath to facilitate unfastening the end of the thread.

lVhen it is desired to cut the thread, the latter is drawn into one of the notches a sutlicient distance to be acted upon by the cutter 17.

In Figures 4 and 6, the plate 13 is provided with oppositely disposed raised portions 20 whereby an awl or other implement may be inserted to facilitate removal of the device.

Instead of providing a separate fastening device 14, a penetrating member 21 may be provided which is integral with the plate 13 so that the device may be inserted after the manner of the ordinary thumb tack.

While the thread may be looped to provide for ready removal, if desired it may be caught Withoutthe loop. In other words, it may be brought beneath the flange 15 and cut by either of the cutters 17 so that no loop will be formed. his however is not so convenient as the loop arrangement when it is desired to release the thread.

If desired, the spool may be marked or indented to indicate the position of the fastening device 14 or 21 so as-to properly space the flange 15 from the edge of the spool.

This is especially useful in the form of the infall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention What is tlaimed is 1. A thread cutting attachment for spools comprising a plate adapted to be attached to the end of a spool, a curved flange at one edge of the plate and adapted to extend along and be slightly spaced from the edge of the spool, said attachment being oppositely notched to provide outer thread engaging clamps and inner cutting edges.

2. A thread cutting attachment for spools comprisinga plate adapted to be attached to the end of a' spool, a curved flange at one edge of the plate and adapted to extend along and be slightly spaced from the edge of the spool, and means provided at the juncture of the plate and flange to define spaced thread engaging means 'and permit of the formation of a loop when the thread is engaged.

3. A thread cutting attachment for spools comprising a plate adapted to be attached to the end of a spool a curved flange at one edge of the plate and adapted to extend along' and be slightly spaced from the edge of the spool, said attachment being oppositely notched to provide outer thread engaging clamps and inner cutting edges, and means included in the plate to permit of the inser: tion of a tool to remove the plate from the spool.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANNA ZENTZ BENNETT. 

